The one thing we have leaned this winter is that to go iceboating conditions have to be just right.  The ice is the number governing factor, it cannot be too rough.

Rough Ice not for sailing or skating on.

A nice smooth clear ice that is 8 inches thick is ideal for an iceboat and to reach speeds of 50-60 MPH you need a good breeze of 10+ MPH.

Snow covered ice really slows or prevents iceboats from getting up to speed.

You may have good ice and a nice breeze but then you need the space too. Is does not take long to travel a good distance at 40-50 MPH.

Your average skating pond while it may have good ice is hardly large enough.

So this year while it has been bitterly cold we have learned that iceboating takes the right conditions and a lot of patience.